Laminated padlock



July 3, 1945.-

LAMINATED PADLOCK Filed Jan. 7*1943 2 sheets-shea V 1 Ime :ATTORNEY July J.-H|NEs E1-AL LAMINATEDxPADLOCK Filed Jan. 7, 1943 vBY 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2.

|NVENToRs .Jou/v mes blau/s SEGA/ ATTORNEY PatentedJuly 3, 1945 LAIVIINATED PADLOCK John Hines, South Norwalk, Conngand Louis' y Segal, New York, N. Y., assignors to Norwalk Lock Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Connecticut Application January 7, 1943, Serial No. 471,588

' (o1. iii- 38) 16 Claims.

The subject matter of this invention is a padlock and is especially concerned with laminated p'adlocks. The object of the invention is realized in the provision of a novel and improved padlock having a plurality of superimposed plates to characterize a rugged and durable laminated casing convenient and easy to assemble and having an intervenor` rim disposed intermediately of the casing to preclude the removal of the cooperating slidable and rotatable shackle from the casingv concoinitantly permitting the projection thereof in part outside of the casing subsequent to the disengagement of a pivotally controlled oscillatn able and spring balanced multiple latch having means adapted to simultaneously unlock both Shanks of the shackle pursuant to rotation of a tumbler controlled key receiving plug in one' direction preparatory to the automatic but linear projection of the shackle in part out of the casing and adapted and waiting to simultaneously inter-y lock with both Shanks of the shackle on'rectilinear displacement of the shackle towards the casing.

The invention has as another object the provision of an intervenor plate or rim forminga part of the laminated casing peripherally encompassing spaced compensatory springs held within the casing by an adjacent pair but spaced conning plates likewise constituting ya part of the casing, the compensatory springs in one embodiment of the invention acting to restore or retract a turnbler controlled and key receiving plug to its normal locked position even though the companion key for actuating the plug may still be within the plug or removed therefrom. The invention in one embodiment thereof has a further object to utilize a pair of confining plates or laminations of lthe casing to retain opposed but balancing springs `against a pivoted 'or floating multiple latch in'a rim or plate peripherally surrounding the latch to permit the latter to be desirably held in an unlocked but waiting relation pursuant to projection of the shackle in part outside of the casing, the balancing springs being eliective to automatically actuate or swing the multiple latch to its intervlocked relation with the shackle upon swivelling latch held by the shackle from retracting until the shackle is swiveled to aline its free shank with a companion shank receiving socket of the lamnated' casing. Other objects, advantages, and structural' and functional aspects of the invention will be Abetter understood from the following detailed disclosurey taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the` lamihated padlock according to our invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, partly broken away, ,and longitudinal sectional view ofFig. l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3*--3 vof Fig. 2.l

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig.

2, particularly illustrating the balanced and pvotal latch.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, depicting .the compensating springs for normally urging the rotatable tumbler controlled plug of thelock cylinder towards its neutral position or locked position in advance of there; traction of the multiple latch.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the laminated padlock.

Fig. 7 is a perspective viewk of the padlock showing the manner of assembly of several of the laminations. v

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the multiple pivoted latch shown 4encompassing the upper actuating web of the plug.` f y y Fig.. 9 is a view oi a modiiied multiple latch in a laminated casing according to our inventionpbut illustrated in an unlocked position, and

Fig. 10 is a view similar, togFig.. 9, however showing the multiple latch ina locked relation with the shackle. i

Illustrative of the embodiments disclosed the laminated padlock is generally designated PL characterized by a casing built up from a plurality of superimposed laminated plates A--U respectively. Within this casing is a tumbler controlledlock cylinder LC having the rotatable key receiving plug PG for ultimately affecting thebalancing leafspripgs BSa-ssociated with the multiple-latch ML, the compensatorylleaf springs CS, and for unlocking the slidable and rotatable shackle SRS.-`

For facilitating and enhancing. the'assembly ofthe casing, the bottom or base plate A is initially-threaded on the shanks of the bolts lll which extend through the openings Il therein. Subsequentlythelock casing LC, which Yhas the laterallyextending housing I2`(Fig. 6) for the slidably guided driving pins I3 v(Fig.v 2) andthe when unlocked. This stop portion 48 projects or overhangs the alined guide openings 24 and i6 and also serves as an abutment to cooperate with upper shoulder 33 to limit inward or downward movement of the shackle.

The opposed compensatory leaf springs CS are now arranged in rim M and interposed between the retaining lugs 29 of disc 28 of the stud 4| of the'rotatable plug PG and the ooniining or and'registering circular openings I9 for closely encompassing the lock casing or cylinder LC and the communicating and alined slots 2D receiving the housing l2. In this way the lock cylinder 'is held interlocked with the gang of plates B-K and against accidental rotational displacement.

The conning plate 5 is now threaded on the pins l0. This plate like all of the laminations or plates A-U has openings as Il for receiving bolts l0. However plate L is seated against the upper end of the 'lock casing. LC or against annular shoulder 2l formed by this -casing since the upper end or stud 4I (Fig. 6) of the plug PG extends beyond the upper end of the lock casing. It has been previously stated that the lower end of the plug PG also extends beyond the lock casing forming the annular shoulder 22 seated on the bottom plate A. It follows that the cylinder lock is thus prevented from lengthwise or axial displacement relative to the laminated casing.

When the confining plate L is assembled, its central opening 23, although smaller, is lined up with openings I3 and its shackle receiving opening 24 is in registration with openings 115 of the gang plates B-K. But it should be observed that thecircular upper end or collar 25 (Figs. Zand 3) of plugPG extends into and is j'ournalled in the opening or bearing 23 of plate L or in other words the irregularly shaped stud 4I lis rotatably guided in bearing 23.

However this stud includesthe lower and upper attenuated portions or iiattened webs 26 and 21 interrupted by the disc shaped member 28 denning retaining lugs 29 overhanging the straight or rectilinear faces 30 of the lower web 26 and extending laterally of the straight faces 3l of the upper web 21.

Having assembled the confining or closure plateL, the long shank l1 of the shackle is inserted into alined openings I6 and 24. Consequently the helicoidal spring 32 which is conned within this shank .and in part projects therefrom, is seated on the bottom closure plate A as shown in Fig. 2. This shank is undercut at 33 to provide the annular shoulder 34 and is also flattened longitudinally at `35 to provide the over-t hanging shoulder 36.

With the long shank I1 of the shackle and its spring 32 disposed within the alined guide openings I6 and 24 the intervening plate M is threaded over the open end or shank 31 of the U shaped shackle in the manner suggested by the dash and dot lines in Fig. '7 and onto the locating pins VHJ and against the confining plate L.

It is important to observe that plate M is provided with an irregularly shaped and relatively large opening 38 and in fact characterizes a rim shaped member or a rim having the spaced straight inner sides 39 and the transversely arranged stop or abutment portion 40, the latter cooperating with lower shoulder 34 of shank I1 to limit the upward projection of the shackle closure plate L, stud 4I being that part of the plug PG extending beyond 'the upper part of the lock casing LC including webs 26 and 21 intervened by the disc 28. Specifically however, the central rectilinear portion 42 (Fig. 5) of the compensatory springs CS bear against the flat faces 38 of the lower web 23 for retracting the plug while the curved or reflexed ends of the diverged arms 43 bear against the ends of the rectilinear inner faces 39 of the rim or plate M.

Supplementary and identical plates N and O are now threaded onto the open end or shank 31 of the shackle in the manner as shown in Fig. 7 and received by the positioning pins I0 and are situated over the compensatory springs. Thus rim or plate M intervenes or is between the confining plates L and N and hence the compensating springs are precluded from disassociating or jumping out of the rim M, the central opening 44 of plate N constituting a guide bearing for the disc 28 of stud 4l.

As a further commentary in respect to the threading of plates N and O onto the shackle, it will be noted (Fig. 6) that each of these plates includes the shank receiving opening 45 asis the case of plates R-U, In assembling these plates onto the shackle, the short shank 31 of the latter is first swiveled to overhang one side of the lami nated casing and thereafter is threaded through openings 45 and the plates are shifted over the bight of the shackle and threaded onto the positioning pins l0.

Assuming that the conning plates yN `and O have been assembled, identical plates or rims P and 'Q are now threaded over the shackle and :located on the pins or bolts l0. These plates have the alined irregular shaped openings 4l' provided at the ends thereof with the alined notches or bearings 48 for facilitating guiding of shank I1 and the alined notches 49 for slidably guiding the short shank 31 of the shackle, notches 48 being alined with guide openings 45 while notches '49 are alined with the registering openings 50 in plates N, O, and R--U, the ends 5i of the alined openings 41 sloping outwardly as shown,

Mounted and tting into `the irregularly shaped openings 41 ofthe alined and identical rims P and Q are the opposed and latch balancing leaf springs BS and each of these has a central straight part 52 abutting the opposed straight sides 53 of the pivoted multiple latch ML. Each spring BS also has outwardly extending arms or wings 54 confined against the tapered or flared portions 5l of the sides Vof the openings 41, or in other words the ends 55 of the multiple latch ML are confined between :corresponding arms 54 of the balancing springs BS and the ends of the latter lare reiiexe'd or bent as illustrated.

The multiple latch ML is seated 'on the plate AO and of course within plates'or rims P Aand Q and is provided with a Acentrally arranged polygonal opening or slot broadly denoted 56 (Fig. 8) having sloping and diverged sides 51 and 58 deiining opposed cams or teeth V59 closely straddling the straight sides or fulcrum means A3| of the upper web 21 of the stud '4I of the rotatable plug lthe laminated casing.

PG, which web projects into the slot 56 of ythe .latch ML.

`which are now upset to hold all the plates yclose together asa unitary laminatedccnstruction in the form of a casing.

By the arrangement disclosedthe long shank l1 is spring controlled and in part is slidably and rotatably conned within the casing. This shank also includes the notch or recess 60 forinterlocking with one end 55 of themultiple latch. The short shank 31 embodiesthe cutaway portion 6| defining shoulder 62 which cooperates to -prevent upward displacement of the vshackle when an opposing end 55 of the multiple latch 'snaps into the cut away portion 6I.

As is Well understood when a suitable key (not shown) is inserted in the rotatable plug PG in the form according to' Figs. 1-8, tumblers 53, actuate the driving pins or tumblers I3 (Fig. 2)

.permitting these tumblers to line up, thus unlocking the plug PG from the cylinder LC and hence the plug can be rotated relative to the 1aminated casing. i y

.Rotation `of plug PGrv of course bodily rotates stud 4| since the latter is merely an extension 'of this plug. It followsV that web 26 causes the straight, portions of the compensating springs CS to be urged outwardly as shown by the dotted vlines in Fig. 5.

The upper web 21 since it is also a part of the plug is also rotated and hence its straight sides ultimately act against a pair of inclined portions 51 and 58 of the opposing sides of the flared and indented winged slot 56 and vcause the straight portions 52 of the balancing springs to spread` outwardly towards 'the opposed straight -of the upper web 21.

If the shackle be locked `as shown in Fig. 2,

.the ends 55 of the multiple latch are within the locking notches 60 and lil.Y Thus each shank of the shackle is locked. If a keybe inserted in the plug and the latter is rotated, ultimately both ends of the latchV are simultaneouslywithdrawn from th'e shackle and the action of spring 32 projects the shackle upwardly until shoulder or ilange 34 hits the overhanging abutment or stop lill of plate or rim M at which time short shank 31 is completely withdrawn `from Even though the key is within the plug, rotation of the latter is resisted by the compensatory and balancing springs CS and consequently after the .latch is unlocked these springs automatically and immediately re- `With the shackle unlocked it -is swiveled or rotated to present its short shank to one side of the laminated casing and by this action,A the long shank of the shackle holds the vmatically snapped into interlocking relation with the -shanks of the shackle when the latter is rotated to aline `the short shank 31 with the openings which characterize a socket and subsequently depressed against the action of spring 32.

Or in other words where the short shank 31 of the shackle is positioned to overhang the casing, the long shank l1 acts as a stop against the multiple latch to prevent its retraction until of course short shank 31 is again lined up With'- alined openings 50 and depressed in which instant both ends of the multiple latch snap into interlocking relation with the shackle. This also holds true for the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 wherein the upper web 21 .is keyed in a closely confining rectangular slot 10 and hence the multiple latch promptly responds to the rotation of the plug but 'the key therein cannot be removed until the shackle is swung back for the reception by the casing of the short shank and depressed. In other aspects the em,- bodiment shownin Figs. 9 and 10 is identical to the form/illustrated in Figs. 1-8 inclusive valthough in all of the `forms disclosedV l bolts l0' of the padlock have their upper Vends 'apprecie ably upset for holding all the laminations or plates of the casing together and Acompactlya's desired. y I

Various changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement of `parts without departing from the spirit fof ,the invention or sacrificing any of the herent therein.` 3

I claim: l,

l. In a padlock, a shackle having a'pair of spaced Shanks, a laminated casing embodying a plurality of superimposed plates including alined means "for rotatably and slidably guiding one shank of said shackle, arim intervening a pair of said plates and having means projecting into said alined means for limiting linear displaceadvantages thereof in- Vment of said shackle, latch means within said casing and cooperating to interlock with saidY means for rotatably andslidably guiding one shank of said shackle, a rim intervening a pair of said plates-and having means projecting into said alined means for limiting linear displacey ment of said shackle, latch means within said Astore the plug to its interlocked relation with `the tumblers provided linger pressure on the' key lbe released.

multiple latch in an ineffective blique relation casing and cooperating to interlock `with said shackle and having an opening defining spacedI tapering portions, rotatable means comprising a stud having an extension having flat sides cooperating with said portions for actuating said latch means -to unlock said shank, and spring means cooperating with said stud for resistin rotation .of said rotatable means.

3.- In a padlock, ashackle-having a pair'of spaced Shanks, a laminated casing embodying -a plurality of-superimposed plates including'alined means for rotatably and' slidablyA guiding; one shank of said shackle, a rim intervening'a vpair of said plates and having means projecting into said alined means for limiting linear displacement of said'shackle, pivoted latch means within said casing and cooperating tofinterlock lwith .said alined means for .limiting linear displacement of said shackle, latch means within said casing and cooperating to interlock with said .shackle .and having an opening including opposed reentrant sides defining opposed toothed means, and rotatable means having a web in said opening and `characterizing fulcrum means for said toothed means.

5. In a padlock, a spring controlled shackle having a pair of spaced shanks, a laminated casing embodying a plurality of superimposed plates including alined means for rotatably and slidably guiding one shank of said shackle, means for limiting linear displacement of said shackle, pivcted latch means within said casing and cooperating to .interlock with said shackle and having an opening including at least one reentrant side delning toothed means, and rotatable means having a web smaller than said opening and projecting therein and characterizing iulcrum means `for said toothed means and constituting means for vdriving saidlatch means relative to said shackle for unlocking'the latter from said latch means.

6. In a padlock, a spring controlled shackle having a pair of spaced Shanks, a laminated casing embodying a plurality of superimposed plates including alined means for rotatably and slidably .guiding one shank of said shackle, means for limiting linear displacement of said shackle, pivoted latch means within said casing and cooperating to interlock with said shackle and having an opening including at least one reentrant side defining toothed means, key receiving rotatable means having a web smaller than said opening and projecting therein and characterizing fulcrum means for said toothed means and constituting means for driving said latch means relative to said .shackle for unlocking the latter from said latch means, and spring means to resist rotation of said rotatable means and to automatically retract the latter pursuant to said rotation.

'7. .In ya padlock, a spring controlled shackle having a pair of spaced Shanks, a laminated casing embodying a plurality of superimposed plates including alined means for rotatably and slidably .guiding one shank of said shackle, means for limiting linear displacement of said shackle, pivoted latch means within said casing and cooperating to interlock with said shackle and having an opening including reentrant sides defining opposed toothed means, rotatable means having a web smaller than said opening vand projecting therein and characterizing fulcrum means for said toothed means and .constituting means for driving of said latch means relative to said shackle for unlocking the latter from said latch means, spring means acting on said latch means .to resist .displacement thereof relative to said shackle, and spring means acting on said rotata- .ble means to automatically retract the latter if rotated.

.8. In .a padlock, .a spring controlled shackle having a pair of spaced Shanks, a laminated casing embodying a plurality of superimposed plates including alined means for rotatably and `slid- `ably guiding' one shank of said shackle.. means for limiting linear displacement of said shackle, pivoted latch means within .said .casing .and vcooperating to interlock with said shackle and having anopening including reentrant sides defining .opposed toothed means, key receiving rotatable means having a web smaller than said opening and projecting therein and characterizing fulcrum means for. saidtoothed means and for `drivingof said latch means relative to -said shackle for unlocking the latter from said casing, balancing -spring means to resist rotation of said latch means, and compensatory spring Ameans to resist-rotation of said vrotatable means, said web bodily rotating with :said rotatable means in advance of the actuation .of said toothed means by :said web'ior displacing said latch means relative to said shackle to unlock the latter.

9. In a padlock, a spring controlled shackle having a pair of spaced shanks, la laminated .casing embodying a plurality of superimposed plates including alined means for rotatably and slidably guiding one shank .ci said shackle, a rim .intervening a pair of .said plates and having means .for limiting linear displacement .of said shackle, latch meanswithin said Vcasing and .cooperating to interlock With said .shackle andhaving .an opening, key receiving. rotatable means .comprising a web smaller than .said .opening and projecting therein and characterizing means `:for :driving :of said latch means relative to said shackle for unlocking .the latter from said latchmeans, spring means to resist rotation .of said rotatable means and .confined in .said rim, and .said pair of plates constituting means `to prevent withdrawal of said spring means from said rim.

'10. In a padlock, ,-a Ashackle having. a pair of v.spaced Shanks, .a laminated .casing embodying 1a ,plurality .of superimposed plates including .alined meansfor rotatably and slida'bly guiding one shank of vsaid shackle, a rim intervening .a pair of said plates and having means projecting into said alined means for limiting linear displace- -ment of said shackle, latch means within .said casing Aand .cooperating to interlock with said shackle .and including an opening., rotatable means .comprising .a stud `having .an extension .cooperating with sides of said opening lfor actu- .ating .said latch means-to unlock said shank, .compensatory spring means .cooperating with .Said stud for resisting rotation of said rotatable means, said pair of said 'plates conning said :spring means in said rim, balancing spring means resisting rotation of said latch means, said .casing including rim means yintervening .a `pair of .spaced plates of vsaid plurality and surrounding said latch means, and said last mentioned pair constituting means to prevent Withdrawal of 'said balancing spring means from said rim means.

11. In a padlock, a shackle having .a pair .of spaced Shanks, a 'laminated casing embodying a plurality of superimposed plates including alined fmeans for rotatably and slidably `guiding one shank of said shackle, a rim intervening r.a pair of said plates and having means projecting into said alined means `for limiting linear displacement of said shackle, latch means Within said casing and cooperating to interlock with said shackle 12. In a padlock, a shackle having a pair of spaced shanks, a laminated` casing embodying a plurality of superimposed plates including alined means for rotatably and slidably guiding yone shank of said shackle, a rim intervening a pair of said plates and having means projecting into said alined means for limiting linear displacement of said shackle, latch means within said casing and cooperating to interlock with said shackle and including an opening, key receiving rotatable means comprising a stud having an extension cooperating with sides of said opening for actuating said latch means to unlock said shanks, and spaced spring means within said rim cooperating with spaced sides of said opening and spaced sides of said stud for resisting rotation of said rotatable means.

13. In a padlock, a shackle having a pair of With saidpack and having key receiving rotatable means projecting into said base plate and sinto said confining plateand including a stud eX- tending into and through said rim, compensatory spring means Within said rim and cooperating to resist rotation of said stud, confining plate means mounted on said rim, rim means mounted on said conning plate means, latch means within said rim means and interlocked With said stud, f

balancing spring means Within said rim means and cooperating with saidllatch means to resist v displacement thereof, closure plate means mountspaced Shanks, a laminated casing embodying a plurality of superimposed plates including alined means for rotatably and slidably guiding one shank of said shackle, a rim intervening a pairof said plates defining an inner elongated slot and having means projecting intosaid -alined means for limiting linear displacement of said shackle, pivoted latch means Within said casing and cooperating to interlock with said shackle and including an opening having reentrant sides deiining opposed toothed means, rotatable means comprising a stud having upper and lower Webs and means for rotatably and slidably guiding one shank of said shackle, a rim intervening a' pair of 4 said plates and having means projecting into said alined means for limiting linear displacement of said shackle, latch means Within said casing and cooperating to interlock with said shackle and including an opening, key receiving rotatable means comprising a stud having an extension interlocking with the sides of said opening for actuating said latch means to unlock said' Shanks, and spaced spring means cooperating with said stud for resisting rotation of said rotatable means.

15. In a padlock, a base plate, a pack of identical plates mounted on said base plate, a coniining' plate mounted on said pack, a rim mounted on said confining plate, a lock cylinder interlocked ed on said rim means, a plurality of superimposed plates mounted on said closure plate means, a spring controlled shackle slidably and rotatably mounted in said pack, confining plate, rim, confining plate means, rim means, closure plate means and superimposed plates and having means for disengageably interlocking with said 'latch means, and bolt means for holding said base plate, pack, confining plate, rim, conining plate means, rim means, closure plate means, and superimposed plates together. y,

16. In a padlock, a base plate, a pack of identical plates mounted on said base plate, a confining plate mounted on said pack, a rim mounted on said confining plate,r a lock cylinder interlocked with said pack and having key receiving rotatable-means projecting into said base plate and into said confining plate and including a stud eX- tending into and through said rim, spaced compensatory spring means within said rim and cooperating to resist rotation of said stud, conning plate means mounted on said rim, rim means mounted on said coniining plate means, multiple latch means within ,said rim means and actuated by said stud, balancing spring means Within said rim means and cooperating with said. latch means to resist displacement thereof, closure plate means mounted on said rim means, a plurality of superimposed plates mounted on said closure plate means, a spring controlled shackle slidably and rotatably mounted'in said pack, conning plate, rim, confining plate means,`rim means, closure plate means and superimposed plates and having spaced shanks having means for simultaneously disengageably interlocking with said multiple latch means, andbolt means for holding said base plate, pack, confining plate, rim, conning plate means, rim means, closure plate means, and superimposed plates together; and said base plate, pack, confining plate, rim, conning plate means, rim means, closure plate means, and superimposed plates characterizing a laminated casing.

JOHN HINES. LOUIS SEGAL. 

